Ex-HSN president Ibrahim emerges first Nigerian international leader in horticulture 

An associate professor at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and immediate past President-in-Council of the Horticultural Society of Nigeria (HSN), Dr Usman Ibrahim, has become Nigeria’s first International Leader in public horticulture.

This followed his completion of a leadership immersive development programme at the Longwood Fellows Program, Longwood Gardens Kenneth Square, PA, United States of America.

Ibrahim had a 13-month leadership programme in the institution, during which time he was at the Harvard University in Boston USA as a visiting scholar.

 A statement by the organisers of the programee said Ibrahim is the first Nigerian to participate in the Fellows programme since its inception in 1967.

“The Longwood Fellows program is a 13-month immersive leadership development program that prepares high-potential professionals for high-impact roles in public horticulture. The Fellows Program at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA United States of America focuses on key skills like communications, board relations and governance, action learning, master site planning, fundraising, crisis communications, and nonprofit finance.

“Fellows gain practical experience via department immersions, an extensive research project, and  two-month field placements with partner Institutions. Hailing from Mexico, Nigeria, Colorado, and Washington, DC, the five Fellows of the 2021–2022 cohort have diverse backgrounds, careers, cultural experiences, and perspectives on public horticulture.

“Their collective experience spans universities, governments, and nonprofit organizations. The Program is segmented into three phases: onboarding, coursework, and opportunities for practical application, including field placement.

“Thus, Dr Usman Ibrahim spent two months as a Visiting Scholar at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Boston USA studying its organizational structure and operations,” said the organisers of the programme.”

“Ibrahim is a Reader (Associate Professor) of Horticulture at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria. Over the last 10 years, he has been involved in interdisciplinary extension and research programs that support productivity, profitability, and sustainable production of horticultural and field crops. He is the Immediate Past President-in-Council of the Horticultural Society of Nigeria. He is the first Nigerian to participate in the Fellows program since its inception in 1967,” the training institution further added.